Coast civil society has trashed President William Ruto’s first half cabinet.
Though the activist said they will do their own background check and vetting for the other five nominees who made entrance to the partial named cabinet, they disapproved the former 6 cabinet secretaries who made their way back to the new list.
Addressing the press in Mombasa, the non-governmental organisations among them Human Rights Agenda (HURIA), Vocal Africa and Haki Africa said the President seem not to be listening to Kenyans voices about governance issues they raised.
HURIA Executive Direct Yusuf Lule said the Civil society is deliberating on possibilities of barring any vetting or endorsement of the 11 nominees in Ruto’s new partial cabinet.
He said the 6 former CSs sent home cannot be returned to the cabinet since the President stated clearly that they underperformed a reason why they were sent parking.
“Are there no any other qualified Kenyans to take up the Cabinet Secretary positions apart from the six people? The President should listen to what Kenyans want,” said Lule.
His sentiments were backed by Vocal Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid who said the human rights defenders are not backing the six for the CS positions.
Heartless
“In fact we are now wondering how people including our religious leaders could forget so quickly that we lost more than 60 youth. Some are still in the morgue and we are here scrambling for ministerial positions. What is wrong with our country?” posed Khalid.
He noted that the cabinet positions should only consist of non-politicians who understand the ministry well and that they have professional background, relevant to the ministries they head.
“How can the President pick a person who knows totally nothing about the ministry they are supposed to lead? That’s why we are calling for transparency and accountability and not political inclination, clannism, friendship or ethnicity when it comes to matters of national interest,” said the vocal human rights defender.
On his part, Haki Africa Executive Director Yusuf Abubakar rubbished the nomination, saying it amounts to recycling incompetent leaders instead of giving Kenyans persons of integrity.
“As Kenyans we are so much inclined to our political affiliation, friendship and tribalism, no one is discussing about ethical and integrity issues here,” he said.
The six who made their way back to the list of cabinet nominees are Interior nominee Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Alice Wahome (Lands), Aden Duale (Defense) Davis Chirchir who served in the Energy ministry but was nominated to head the Transport docket, Rebecca Miano as the Attorney General nominee and Soipan Tuya (Environment).
